Lamp socket



J. J. PAVLICK LAMP SOCKET Feb. 5, 1963 Filed June 17, 1960 MEM INVENTORZLSEPH :ZP/r VL cw BY h im K nu ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 5, 19533,076,950 LAMP SOCKET Joseph J. Pavlick, Hazleton, Pa., assigner toTung-Sol Electric Inc., a corporation of Delaware Filed .lune 17, 1969,Ser. No. 36,943 4 Claims. (Cl. 339-61) This invention relates to asocket for Candelabra type lamp bulbs and has particular reference to asocket which will hold a light bulb securely without the necessity ofturning the lamp bulb when inserting it into or withdrawing it from thesocket.

Many types of lamp sockets have been devised and used, the mostimportant and widely used type being the screw base arrangement in whichthe lamp must be turned or threaded in order to make electrical contactwith both terminals. This action consumes considerable time andconsiderable pressure must be applied to the bulb in order to be surethat the base is well seated. The bayonet type of socket is used in someapplications where there is considerable vibration and a bayonet lockingmeans is necessary to retain the lamp in its operating position. Thebayonet type of socket is not entirely `satisfactory since the lamp basehas considerable play within the socket tube and the electricalconnection to the central lamp terminal depends entirely upon theresiliency of the central socket electrode. The socket herein describedhas none of the difculties listed above and in addition is quick acting.An operator need only push the lamp into the socket to obtain completeand reliable connection to both electrical conductors.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved socketfor electric lamps which avoids one or more of the disadvantages andlimitations of prior art sockets.

Another object of the invention is to provide a socket which will hold alamp base securely in contact with its electrical connections.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the cost of sockets byproviding a structure which uses easily manufactured parts which can beassembled in a short time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a socket which willaccommodate bulbs of various sizes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a socket which isinterchangeable with the standard sockets now in use.

The invention comprises a plurality of strip conductor members which arearranged to form a pronged open shell for receiving the lamp base andwhich are urged into engagement with the lamp base by a plurality oftension spring members adjacent portions of the outer surfaces of theconductor members. The conductor members and spring members are heldtogether and in engagement with a flat electrode by a single screwmea'ns. The screw means also holds a central contact spring near thebase of the pronged shell to form a second electrode. The entire shellassembly is housed in a resilient rubber cylinder and the ends of theconductor members are bent over the upper rim of the rubber cylinder tohold it in place and to provide a curved leadin surface for the lampbase. The socket may be mounted on a fiat base with the single screwmeans, suitable holes being provided in the base for the screw means andfor the second electrode.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with otherand further objects thereof, reference is made to the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

FIG. 1 is a side view of the socket.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the socket taken along a linewhich intersects the axis of the socket. FLG. 3 is a top view of thesocket.

FIG. 4 is a top view of one of the electrodes removed from the socket.

FIG. 5 is a development view of one of the spring members used withinthe resilient cylinder.

FIG. 6 is a development view of one of the conductor members used withinthe resilient cylinder.

Referring now to the drawing, a base l@ of any de- 'red shape orthickness may be used to support the socket components. The base is madeof hard rubber or Bakelite or any other convenient stili insulatingmaterial. A resilient cylinder 11 is positioned on the base 1t) and ismade of sponge rubber or other similar material. All the socketcomponents are retained in their operating position by means of amachine screw l2 which passes through a hole in the base 1li and is heldin place by a nut 13. The machine screw 12 is made of conductivematerial and makes contact with a contact spring 14 at its upper end,this spring making contact with one of the terminals of the lamp base.The spring conducts current to the lamp by means of a source of electricpower connected to the lower en-d of screw 12. A second electrode 1S(shown in detail in FIG. 4) is mounted on the top surface of the base1t) and one end of the electrode i5 may extend through a hole 16 `in thebase for connection to the source of electric power. The other end ofelectrode l5 is formed with a disc portion having a hole 17 whichsurrounds the screw 12 but is separated therefrom by an insulator sleeve1-8.

Contact to the sides of the lamp base is made by the prongs of conductormembers Ztl and 22 which are made from strips of spring material. Theconductor members 26 and 22 (shown in detail in FIG. 6) are providedwith a central hole 25 and are bent into a U-shape. The conductormembers extend up to the top of the resilient cylinder 11 with theirends being bent over the rinrof the resilient cylinder. The curved innerends of conductor members grip the sides of the lamp base and hold itfirmly in place. Positioned flush against portions of the outer surfaceof the conductor members are spring members Zit and 23 which are alsomade from spring material. ese spring members (shown in detail in FIG.5) are also provided with a central hole 24 and are bent into a U-shapelike that of conductor members 20 and 22 to press against the outersurface of the conductor members. The spring members reinforce thegripping pressure of the conductor members and urge the conductormembers to engage the sides of the lamp base. In the embodiment shown inFG. 2 of the drawings the spring members extend about halfway up thelength of the conductive members. However, the length of the springmembers may be changed according to the degree of reinforcement desired.

When the socke is assembled screw 12 is inserted through electrode 14and then through washer 26 which is made from insulating material. Thescrew 12 is then inserted through an insulating sleeve i8, the diameterof which is selected to give a snug lit within the holes of theconductor and spring members and of the electrode l5. The base of theconductor 22 is then moved up on the screw into engagement with the baseof the insulating washer 26. Spring member 21 is next assembled on thescrew and its base moved into engagement with the base of conductor 22.The same procedure is followed with conductor 2li and spring member 23.Then electrode 15 is moved up against the bottom-most spring member 23.The entire assembly is then placed within the resilient rubber cylinder11 and screw member 12 and electrode 15 are inserted into holes in thebase 10. Nut 13 is screwed up against the base 10 to secure the socketto the base. The ends of the conductor members 2li and 22 are bent overthe upper rim of the resilient cylinder and the socket is ready for use.

To connect a lamp bulb to the socket, the base of the lamp need only bepushed into the socket by pressing on the bulb'. No rotation of the lampin the socket is needed. To remove the lamp from the socket it issirnply pulled out. While the lamp base is in the socket it is held rmlyin place by the grip of the inner curved ends of conductor members 20and 22, this gripping force being considerably reinforced by the springmembers 21 and 23 and by the resilient cylinder il. The lamp base isretained in contact position even though the socket be subjected toconsiderable vibration. From the embodiment of the invention heretoforedescribed it will be seen that a socket is provided which receives lampbases of various shapes and sizes whether of the bayonet, screw threador straight cylindrical type. The lamp base is firmly mounted and easilyremoved from the socket simply by push pull movements without the needfor rotation in either case. The socket may be mounted singly on a flatbase or in groups of two or more on large panels.

The foregoing disclosure and drawings are merely illustrative of theprinciples of this invention and are not to be interpreted in a limitingsense. The only limitations are to be determined from the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. An electric lamp socket comprising a cylindrical shell of resilientinsulating material, a plurality of U- shaped strip conductors made fromflat spring material and positioned on the inside surface of the shell,the ends of some of said conductors being bent over the upper rim of theshell for securing the shell relative to the conductors, the remainingconductors extending partly up along the inside surface of the shell andpressing against outer 'surfaces of the longer conductors to urge saidlonger conductors radially inward, a first lead-in electrode positionedin contact with said conductors for connection to an external circuit,an axial conductive retaining means for securing the conductors and therst lead-in electrode together, said retaining means forming a secondlead-in `electrode for connection to an external circuit, and insulationmeans positioned between said retaining means and said conductors.

2. An electric lamp socket comprising a cylindrical shell of resilientinsulating material mounted on a base, a plurality of U-shaped str-ipconductors made from at spring material and positioned on the insidesurface of the shell, the ends of some of said conductors being bentover the upper rim of the shell lfor securing the shell relative to thebase, the remaining conductors extending partly up along the insidesurface of the shell and pressing against outer surfaces ot the longerconductors to urge said longer conductors radially inward, a rst lead-inelectrode positioned in contact with said conductors for connection toan external circuit, an axial conductive retaining means passing througha hole in the base and through holes in the conductors for securing theconductors to the base, said retaining means also forming a econdlead-in electrode for connection to an external circuit, and insulationmeans positioned between said retaining means and said conductors forpreventing conduction between the lead-in electrodes.

3. An electric lamp socket as set forth in claim 2 wherein a springContact electrode is secured to the inner end of the retaining means formaking contact with an axial terminal on a lamp base.

4. An electric lamp socket as set forth in claim 2 wherein saidinsulation means includes a tube of insulating material surrounding theretaining means for part of its length and an insulating washer inengagement with said conductors.

References @ited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,700,495 Hayward Jan. 29, 1929 2,093,663 Suzuki Sept. 21, 19372,306,206 Dalgleish Dec. 22, 1942 2,480,142 Lager Aug. 30, 19492,565,492 French Aug. 28, 1951 FORElGN PATENTS 214,743 Great Britain May7, 1924 668,798 Great Britain Mar. 19, 1952

1. AN ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET COMPRISING A CYLINDRICAL SHELL OF RESILIENTINSULATING MATERIAL, A PLURALITY OF USHAPED STRIP CONDUCTORS MADE FROMFLAT SPRING MATERIAL AND POSITIONED ON THE INSIDE SURFACE OF THE SHELL,THE ENDS OF SOME OF SAID CONDUCTORS BEING BENT OVER THE UPPER RIM OF THESHELL FOR SECURING THE SHELL RELATIVE TO THE CONDUCTORS, THE REMAININGCONDUCTORS EXTENDING PARTLY UP ALONG THE INSIDE SURFACE OF THE SHELL ANDPRESSING AGAINST OUTER SURFACES OF THE LONGER CONDUCTORS TO URGE SAIDLONGER CONDUCTORS RADIALLY INWARD, A FIRST LEAD-IN ELECTRODE POSITIONEDIN CONTACT WITH SAID CONDUCTORS FOR CONNECTION TO AN EXTERNAL CIRCUIT,AN AXIAL CONDUCTIVE RETAINING MEANS FOR SECURING THE CONDUCTORS AND THEFIRST LEAD-IN ELECTRODE TOGETHER, SAID RETAINING MEANS FORMING A SECONDLEAD-IN ELECTRODE FOR CONNECTION TO AN EXTERNAL CIRCUIT, AND INSULATIONMEANS POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID RETAINING MEANS AND SAID CONDUCTORS.